Articles
The Head Covering Question
The first letter to the Corinthian is one where Paul has to address the spiritual immaturity of the brethren at Corinth, and the many resulting troubles. In 1 Corinthians 11:2-16, Paul addressed yet another problem that arose because of their spiritual immaturity; this was not merely an issue or question they had, but a question that arose because, it appears, some were ignoring their brethren and social customs to the point they had become a distraction when they came together to pray and to speak God's word.
Though much confusion and unnecessary division has been caused by misunderstanding of what exactly 1 Corinthians 11 [in reference to the woman's head covering] is saying to us Christians today, it need not be the case. Unfortunately, there seems to be about as many interpretations as there are words in the chapter under discussion! But is it so hard to understand that we must sometimes divide over the answer? Let's take a look at the text and see what is said, and how it applies to us today.
The Issue. What is often skipped over in this discussion is the fact that this is a matter of authority and submission. When Paul begins this portion of the letter and as he is about to address this particular issue, he takes time to praise them for keeping the divine traditions he had delivered to them already (1 Cor. 11:2). In a letter so full of chastisements, rebukes, and corrections, let's not forget this word of praise.
But, he also had a reminder of something they apparently had either ignored or overlooked in his past teaching: the matter of what we might call the "chain of authority" where God is head over Christ, Christ is head over man, and man is head over the woman. But why point this out right now? It is important because of what is to follow!
The head covering was a related matter, and Paul begins with the men: “Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head” (1 Cor. 11:4), and the fact “a man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God” (1 Cor. 11:7a). When they gathered together to hear ones speaking by inspiration of the Holy Spirit or praying in the Spirit, he was not to ignore this!
However, for woman, it was completely opposite — for her to be uncovered would be a dishonor to self, and all because of that "chain of authority" to which Paul referred earlier. For a woman to come into the assembly to pray or prophesy by the Spirit and ignore her place in that "chain" would be out of line — just as much as it would for a man to have spoken without recognition or consideration of Christ's authority.
The reasoning for it was also explained when Paul noted (1 Cor. 11:7-9) a man is not to cover his head because he is the image and glory of God. From this, then, Paul points out that the woman is to be submissive [and show submission] because she was created of man, and for man [not the other way around].
Because woman was created for man and not the man for the woman, God established the order of authority and we cannot change it, no matter what society may do. Because this is God's established order, she is to show submission (1 Cor. 11:10) and, in this context, submission was shown by wearing a covering.
But even saying this — reminding them of the proper "chain" — Paul does not want either one to think they can act improperly towards the other by thinking they are invaluable to the other (1 Cor. 11:11, 12); they were both made for each other. Yet the order still stands.
With the order in mind, Paul then puts the question to them as it should have always been: “Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered?” (1 Cor. 11:13). That was a question they could answer! With a reminder of the proper "chain of authority" and a reminder of the covering's propriety, he makes it clear they know the proper behavior in the assembly when praying and prophesying.
To further strengthen the point about the covering's propriety for either man or woman, he then asks them about what should have been common knowledge. “Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears long hair it is a disgrace for him, but if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair is given to her for a covering” (1 Cor. 11:14, 15). In other words, they should have known the answer to this issue!
The bottom line: This was not a 'Church' teaching (1 Cor. 11:16). When it came down to it, this was a matter they should have dealt with among themselves and by themselves because it was not a matter that was doctrinal, and not an issue in the churches. This should tell us this was a societal issue that would have to be answered by those wherever it happened to be. It was not a matter over which one should become contentious and divisive.
Who Was To Wear The 'Covering,' Why Was It Worn, and When? According to what Paul wrote, it was because of societal customs and propriety that women wore the covering everywhere she went. The purpose was to show submission to man (1 Cor. 11:7-10). Paul begins the chapter by laying out the order, or chain, of authority (1 Cor. 11:3 — woman-man-Christ-God). He concludes that line of thinking by saying, “for this reason…” (1 Cor. 11:10). In the first century and where they were, it was the custom of the day to wear the covering at all times! The woman of NT times was often considered little more than personal property, and held in low regard as to her worth. It was necessary for women to wear the covering at all times so as not to draw attention to themselves. In what I believe to be the true interpretation of this text, Paul was talking about those who removed the covering during the divinely-motivated “praying and prophesying” [not necessarily the worship service], not about putting one on just for “praying and prophesying”. His admonition was to not disturb the order of the worship to God by suddenly abandoning social convention to the detriment of those who saw the removal of the veil [covering].
What Is The Scriptural Application For Us Today? The first point we should learn is that we should dress in a way so as not to draw attention to self and be a distraction (cf. 1 Tim. 2:9-10). In this context, the abandonment of social custom was a major distraction in the assembly. Secondly, we must not forget the Divine order where God is over Christ, Christ over man, and man over woman (1 Cor. 11:3; see also Eph. 5:22-24; 1 Tim. 2:11, 12; and 1 Pet. 3:1-5). Remember Paul would later write, regarding the assembly, “Let all things be done decently and in order” (1 Cor. 14:40); that is a good summation of this very issue!
What About The ‘Contentious’ One? Note well that Paul concluded this section by writing, “we” [apostles] have no such custom, and neither did the Lord's church. So, what is the point of 1 Cor. 11:16? If anyone is argumentative over the subject of the covering, there is no such custom held within the confines of the church or its teachings.
In conclusion, let us note that this issue was not so much a matter of the particular question of the covering, but a matter of spiritual immaturity and brethren refusing to consider one another. Let us learn from this that we should not be a distraction, nor should we ignore God's proper order. —— Steven Harper
